Montserrat
none conventional short form: Montserrat
NAIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Montserrat as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Much of this island has been devastated and two-thirds of the population has fled abroad due to the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano that began on 18 July 1995.
Geography
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
16 fieldsElevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills) 914 m
Land use
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 40% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Population
7,574 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 23.83% (male 907; female 898) 15-64 years: 64.66% (male 2,341; female 2,556) 65 years and over: 11.51% (male 464; female 408) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.03 years male: 75.95 years female: 80.22 years (2001 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.)
Government
NA
19 fieldsLegislative Council, 7 seatsone dot, one seat
Capital
Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997) head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August 1997) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: the monarch is hereditary;
- governor appointed by the monarch;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister;
- note - as a result of the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates
Legislative branch
- unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA November 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
- seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2
Judicial branch
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)
Political parties and leaders
- Movement for National Reconstruction or MNR [Percival Austin BRAMBLE];
- National Development Party or NDP [leader NA];
- National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE];
- People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [John A. OSBORNE]
International organization participation
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
Flag description
- blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag;
- the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
Economy
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy.
32 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number.
The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK committed to a three year $125 million aid program in 1999 to help reconstruct the economy.
Budget
revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Economic aid - recipient
- $9.8 million (1995);
- note - about $100 million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK;
- Country Policy Plan (1999) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance
Communications
10 fieldsTransportation
7 fieldsMilitary
Police Force
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Montserrat.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/montserrat/2001.